Chicken splitter



Aug. 15, I HANNAN 2,169,951

CHICKEN SPLITTER I Filed Sept. 16, 1958 3] v wen vim JOSEPH J. Hum/4A4 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE CHICKEN SPLITTER Joseph J. Hannan, Chicago,- 111.

Application September 16, 1938, Serial No. 230,305

3 Claims.

This invention relates to cutting devices, and more particularly to a cutter adapted for use in cutting or splitting chickens.

An object of this invention is to provide a rotary cutting device in the form of an attachment which may be detachably connected to a power device in the form of a motor, the device being so constructed as to'provide a means whereby a dressedchicken may be quickly cut into the desired number and kinds of pieces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cutter of this kind which is simple in construction and which may be manufactured at a relatively small cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a rotary cutter of this kind an adjustable guard means on opposite sides of the rotary cutter which not only guide the rotary cutter, but also serve as a gage for gaging the depth of the cut which is being made.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a means for splitting or cutting chickens or like fowl which may be detachably connected to a motor operated meat grinder, the grinder being removed from the motor and the splitting or cutting device being substituted therefor.

Embodying the objects aforesaid, and to others which may directly or indirectly appear, the. invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and 35 modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail top plan of a cutting attachment or splitter constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the device, and

Figure 3 is a detail front elevation of the device showing the manner of connecting the device to 5 a motor.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates a table or platform which is adapted to be constructed out of a suitable sheet of material such as metal or the like, and which is of a suitable thickness and size. The table or plate I0 has secured to one edge thereof a right angularly disposed plate II which may be secured as by screws or bolts I3, and an outwardly extending bearing or boss I2 is carried by the plate I I. The 55 boss I2 is provided. on its outer end with a reduced cylindrical boss or extension I4 which is adapted to engage in a socket I provided in a bearing extension I6 forming part of a motor M. The boss I2 at its outer end is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed keys or lugs I! which are adapted to engage in key ways or recesses provided in the bearing I6, so that the boss I 2 will be held against rotation relative to the boss or extension I6. A screw I8 is threaded through the boss I6, and is'adapted to engage the reduced boss or extension I4 so as to hold the boss it against longitudinal movementin the socket I5.

A drive shaft 59 is journaled through the bearing orboss I2 and projects outwardly through the reduced boss I4 being provided on the extended end thereof with a square or angular portion which is adapted to seat snugly into a complimentary square or angular socket 2i provided in the outer end of the motor shaft 22. The plate or platform Ifiis provided with a second depending plate or'flange 23 which is secured to the underside of the plate I0 by means of bolts or screws 24. The shaft l9 extends through the flange or plate I1 and also through the plate or flange 23, and is held against lengthwise movement by means of a nut 25 which is threaded onto the outer end of the shaft I9.

A thrust collar 26' is secured to the shaft I9 adjacent the outer end thereof, and is adapted to engage against the inner side of the plate or flange 23 so that the shaft I9 will be held against lengthwise movement relative to the bearing I2.

A collar 21 is disposed on the shaft I9 at a point substantially centrally below the plate Iii and a disc shaped cutter 28 engages against the collar or flange 21 being tightly held on the shaft I9 against the collar or flange 21 by means of a nut 29 which is threaded onto the shaft I9. The cutter 28 may either be provided with a smooth cutting edge or, if desired, the cutting edge of the cutter 28 may be toothed. The cutter or blade 28 projects upwardly through an elongated slot 3!! provided in the platform I0.

The platform II] is provided on opposite sides of the projecting portion of the cutter or blade 28 with a pair of guards or guide members 3| and 32. The guards or guide members 3i and 32 are provided in the form of a longitudinally curved bar provided with flanged or straight end portions 33 and 34 respectively. These straight end portions comprise base portions which are adapted to engage on the upper surface of the platform It. The platform ID on one side of the blade 28 is provided with an elongated slot 35 and bolts 36 are adapted to engage through the base or foot members 33 of the guard 3|, and the guard 3! is fixed in adjusted position relative to the length of the slot 35 by wing nuts 31 engaging the bolts 36. In the present instance, the wing nuts 31 are positioned on the underside of the platform ill.

The platform I!) is also provided with a sec ond elongated slot 38 and bolts 39 engage through the feet or base members 34 and through the slot 38. A wing nut 40 is threaded onto the lower end of each nut 39 on the side of the blade 28 bpposite from the wing nuts 37.

In the use and operation of this attachment, the stub M is adapted to be inserted in the socket if: of the motor bearing l6, and to be secured by means of the set screw l8. The stub I4 is adapted to support the entire attachment from the bearing it of the motor M. The inner end of the boss I2 is adapted to abut against the outer end of the boss or bearing [6 of the motor M and the square end 20 of the drive shaft I9 is adapted to snugly engage in the socket 2| of the motor shaft 22. The two guard members 3| and 32 are adjusted longitudinally of the slots 35 and 38 respectively, so that the desired portion of the cutting blade 28 will project forwardly of the guide members 3| and 32 as shown in Figure 2.

The chicken is then engaged with the rotary blade 28 being moved forwardly and upwardly in an arcuate movement along the platform II] and upwardly along the guard members 3| and 32. The blade 28, which is adapted to rotate at a relatively high speed, will thereby split the desired portion of the chicken as the chicken is passed over the platform and the guard members 3i and 32. This operation will speed up the cutting or splitting of the chicken and in addi-. tion will prevent the formation of splinters of bone as the rotary blade 28 will cleanly cut through not only the meat of the chicken, but also the bones.

The attachment hereinbefore disclosed may be mounted on the motor M which forms a part of a meat grinder, the grinder being disengaged from the bearing i6 and the attachment inserted in place of the grinder. This device can be manufactured at relatively a small cost and due to the simplicity thereof the device will not read-. ily get out of order, and can be quickly applied or removed from the motor M by means of the set screw 18.

What I claim is 1. A device as set forth comprising a table member, a pair of downwardly extending spaced apart plates carried by said member, a boss car ried by one of said plates, a shaft journalled through said boss and the other of said plates, means carried by said shaft and engaging on opposite sides of said other plate to hold said shaft against endwise movement, said table having an elongated slot therethrough and a pair of elongated slots one on each side of said first slot, a disc-shaped blade fixed on said shaft and having a portion thereof projecting through said slot, a pair of guard members carried by said table on opposite sides of said blade, means engaging through said pair of slots adjustably securing said guard on said table, and means carried by said boss engageable with a supporting means for supporting said table in horizontal position while simultaneously coupling said shaft to a driving means.

2. In combination a motor, a boss carried by said motor about the shaft thereof, said boss having a socket concentric to and extending outwardly of said shaft, a table, a shaft rotatably disposed beneath said table, said table having a slot therethrough, a blade fixed to said shaft and projecting through said slot, a guard on each side of said blade, said table having a pair of slots one on each side of said first slots, means engaging through said pair of slots adjustably securing said guards on said table, means carried by said table about said second shaft rotatably supporting said second shaft, and means carried by said latter means engageable in said socket for supporting said table in horizontal position.

3. A chicken splitter attachment for a meat grinder motor comprising a table having an elongated slot therethrough, a pair of plates secured to and depending from said table, an outwardly extending boss carried by one of said plates, at reduced boss carried by said first boss, a. shaft journalled through said bosses and the other of said plates, means carried by said shaft engaging on opposite sides of said other plate for holding said shaft against endwise movement, a cou pling member carried by said shaft outwardly of said reduced boss, diametrically opposed lugs carried by said first boss engageable with said motor to hold said table in horizontal position, a blade fixed to said shaft and projecting through said slot, said table having a pair of slots one on each side of said first slot and parallel therewith, a pair of arcuate guards disposed one on each side of said blade on the upper side of said table, and means engaging said guards and extending through said pair of slots for adjustably securing said guards on said table.

JOSEPH J. HANNAN. 

